Line-up table having an angularly adjustable work surface



Jan. 17, 1961- w. RANDOLPH ETAL 2,968,115

LINE-UP TABLE HAVING AN ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE WORK SURFACE Filed Nov. 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WOODRUFF RANDOLPH CLAIRE N. 5REWR N CHARLES O- 6035 BY ,Jauh muz/ ATTORNEY 6 Jan. 17, 1961 I w. RANDOLPH ETAL 2,963,115

LINE-UP TABLE HAVING AN ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE WORK SURFACE Filed Nov. 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WOODRUFF RANDOLPH 'CLA/RE N. 5RWR CHARLES O. 6056 ATTORNEYS Jan. 17, 1961 W.'RANDO! PH ETAL 2, 1

LINE-UP TABLE HAVING AN ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE WORK SURFACE Filed Nov. 25, 1958 I s-she'e'ts-sneet s' INVENTOR WOODRUFF RAND P CLAIRE N. BREWER CHARLES @0555 ATTORNEYS 1 19 w. RANDOLPH ETAL 2,968,115"

LINE-UP TABLE HAVING AN ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE WORK'SURFACE Filed Nov. 25, 1958 'asheets-sheet 4 WOODROFF RANDOLPH CLAIRE N-.5REWER CHARLES O- 6058 ATTORNEY-5 I INVENTOR I Jan. 17,1961 w. RANDOLPH ETAL 2,968,115

LINE-UP TABLE HAVING AN ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE WORK SURFACE Filed Nov. 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @1 19 \\l\\ y, ,H m4 2 5 I INVENTOR WOODRUFF RANDOLPH CLAIRE N. BREWER CHARLES O. G056 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O LINE-UP TABLE HAVING AN AN GULARLY ADJUSTABLE WORK SURFACE Woodrufl Randolph, Claire N. Brewer, and Charles 0. Goss, Indianapolis, Ind., assignors to International Typographical Union of North America, Indianapolis, Ind.

Filed Nov. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 776,376

4 Claims. (Cl. 45-'131) This invention relates broadlyto the printing art and, more particularly, relates to so-called line-up or register tables which are used in performing such make-up operations as lining, ruling, scoring negatives and the like.

Tables of the described type, and which are used for the purpose stated above, are provided with a horizontal, translucent work surface which may be adjusted to various angular positions in order to permit lines to be drawn at various angles to each other on a sheet of paper, a negative or the like, which is positioned on the work surface, without the necessity of angularly moving the T-square or other straight-edge device along which the lines are drawn. Such a T-square device of new and improved construction is disclosed in the co-pending application of Brewer, Goss and Ruddle, Serial No. 722,690, filed March 20, 1958, for Precision Ruling and Scribing Device for Line-up Tables, and a new and improved device for moving such a T-square through various small increments is disclosed in the co-pending application of Brewer and Goss, Serial No. 677,001, filed August 8, 1957, for Micrometer Device for Operating the Movable Straight-Edge of a Line-up Table, and the Like, and now Patent No. 2,942,351. The present invention has to do with the tables on which such T-squares or other straight-edge devices, and the operating means for them, are positioned and over which they are operated.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide such a table having a translucent work surface which may be adjusted angularly about its center and locked in any one of a number of desired positions. A principal object of the invention, in a preferred embodiment thereof, is to provide such a table in which the work surface may be adjusted to a number of predetermined positions which are those most usually used or, aiternatively, may be adjusted through very small increments of movement in order to permit lines to be drawn at any angle with respect to each other with a very high degree of accuracy. A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a table of the type described, means for positioning the translucent work surface in any one of a number of vertically related positions, in one of which it is locked in any one of four positions at right angles to each other, in another of which it may be rotated freely, and in a third of which it may be locked in any one of 360 positions spaced by 1 increments throughout 360 of angular movement, thus providing a work surface which may be easily and quickly moved to any one of the four positions at right angles to each other which are most frequently used, while at the same time permitting angular adjustment to any position which may be required for unusual Work.

Two embodiments of the invention are described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table of the type to which the invention relates;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the table of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of the table shown in Figs. 1 and 2, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the means for effecting vertical movement of the glass work surface and associated parts of the table, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a part elevational and part sectional view showing the indicating means, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a table of the type to which the invention relates, showing a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the table of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the table of Figs. 7 and 8, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

A preferred embodiment of a table of the type to which the invention relates and including the new and improved means for positioning the glass or similar work surface, as provided by the invention, is disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings and comprises a rectangular frame 2 defining a rectangular preferably square central opening 4, the upper, inner corner of each of the four side pieces forming the frame being cut away as shown at 6 to provide a recess extending entirely about the central opening. A receptacle known as a light box is mounted on the under side of the frame 2 and depends therefrom below the central opening 4 and has end walls 8, 10, side walls 12, 14 and a bottom 16. A fixed vertical sleeve or bearing member 18 is mounted on and extends downwardly from, the bottom 16 of the light box centrally of the opening 4 and, being rigidly connected to the bottom 16, is held against rotation. A circular plate 20 is connected to the sleeve 18 above and adjacent the bottom 16 and at its outer periphery supports a plurality of metal spacers 22 which are arranged in an annular series and which support a horizontally disposed fixed internal ring gear 24 having 360 teeth and which is concentric with bearing sleeve 18. The parts which have been described constitute the fixed elements of the table.

A rotatable vertical spindle 26 is mounted within the bearing sleeve 18 and is supported by ball bearing 28 on a fixed vertical tube 30 which is mounted within the lower part of the bearing sleeve 18. The spindle extends upwardly from the upper end of sleeve 18 and, at its upper end, is provided with a rubber cushion 3-2 which supports the center of a plate 34 which is formed of glass or other translucent material, which is preferably square in shape having diagonally cut corners 33, as shown in Fig. 2, and the peripheral edge of which is bound with a metal edging 36 which covers the peripheral side edge of the plate and the adjacent top and bottom edge parts and is therefore C-shaped in cross-section. This glass plate 34 is of such size and shape that it fits within the square recess 6 which is formed in the rectangular frame 2. As will be described hereinafter, the spindle 26 and the attached plate 34 may be raised from the recess 6 and angularly adjusted in order to move the plate to various different angularly related positions.

Above the fixed plate 20 and within the light box the spindle 26 has mounted on it a horizontally disposed external gear 40 which has 360 teeth which mesh with those of the fixed internal ring gear 24. The external gear 40 is only one-half as thick in a vertical direction as the internal ring gear 24, and in the normal and usual position of the parts the external gear 40 is vertically positioned adjacent the lowermost part of the internal ring gear 24 and in this position the glass plate 34 is positioned within the recess 6 in the frame 2, all as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Four radially extending arms 50 are rigidly connected to the external gear 40 and are supported above the same on spacers 52. These arms extend at intervals about the common center of the bearing sleeve 18 and spindle 26 and, adjacent its outer extremity, each arm has connected to it and extending upwardly therefrom a hollow tubular support member 60 which is screw threaded at its lower end into the associated arm 50, whereby the vertical height of the support member 60 may be adjusted so that the upper end thereof will exactly meet the lower surface of the C-shaped edge binding 36 of the glass plate 34, whereby the glass plate will be firmly supported at four spaced points about its periphery. Each arm 50 also has mounted on its upper surface lights 62, 64 which provide illumination below the translucent or transparent plate 34. A tube 66 extends through the aligned central passages in spindle 26 and tube 30 and at its upper end is connected to the spindle to rotate therewith. The spindle has an opening 68 through its wall above the upper end of tube 66 and electric leads 70 are led to the lights 62, 64 through the tube 66 and this opening. As the spindle is rotatable, slip rings 72 are provided at the lower end of the tube 31 and are engaged by fixed brushes for connecting the wires 70 to a source of electric energy.

Means are provided by the invention for insuring that the external gear 40 cannot move to its lowermost position with respect to internal ring gear 24 at the four principal 90 positions of the plate 34 unless it is properly meshed with the correct teeth of the internal ring gear 24, thus insuring that at these four principal positions the plate will be in exactly square position even if the recess 6 in the table top is larger than the plate. These means comprise four locating pins 76 which are threaded into the plate 20 within the light box and extend upwardly from the plate. These pins are spaced at 90 intervals about the common center of the spindle 26 and plate 34 and each of them is positioned exactly in a radial line between such common center and the center of one of the sides of the square frame 2. The rotatable external gear 40 is provided in its lower surface part with four upwardly extending holes 78 which are themselves spaced at exact 90 intervals about the common center of the spindle 26 and plate 34. These holes are positioned and adapted to receive the upper ends of pins 76 when the rotatable external gear 40 and the attached drawing plate 34 are in their lowermost position and at one of the four principal positions of the plate, each of which is at 90 to adjacent positions.

Means are also provided by the invention for raising and lowering the spindle 26 and its connected parts for the purpose of raising and lowering the drawing plate 34 to three vertically related positions, in order to permit it to be angularly adjusted when in its uppermost position, and to be locked in adjusted position when in its two lower positions. Such means comprise a cylindrical sleeve or cylinder 90 which surrounds and is rotatable about the bearing sleeve 18 and has an operating handle 92 extending outwardly therefrom. The upper and lower surfaces of this sleeve are formed as cams. The lower cam surface 94 rides on the upper surface of a circular roller bearing 96 which is fixed to bearing sleeve 18 and the upper cam surface 98 engages the lower surface of a roller bearing 100 which is mounted on a member 102 which extends through a vertical slot 104 in bearing sleeve 18 and is connected to the tube 30 which is below and which supports the vertically movable spindle 26. It will be apparent that by operating the handle 92 the cam sleeve 90 may be rotated. When this is done the lower cam surface 94 will ride on the fixed bearing 96 and the entire cam will be raised thus raising the upper bearing 100, pin 102, tube 30, spindle 26, external gear 40 and drawing plate 34.

In the use and operation of this preferred embodiment of the invention, the square glass plate 34 normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, in which its peripheral edge is received within the inner peripheral recess 6 in the frame 2. This is the normal position of the glass plate 34 as, inalmost all cases, the lines to be drawn on a sheet of paper or other material to be used in making a printed form are at right angles to each other. Therefore, if lines are first drawn on a sheet of paper laid on the plate 34, with the periphery of the plate within the recess 6, and it is then desired to draw other lines at right angles to these first lines it is only necessary to raise the spindle 26 and the connected plate 34 sufficiently to cause the external gear 40 to completely clear the internal ring gear 24, after which the spindle and the connected glass plate may be rotated to and then lowered to a position in which the periphery of the plate is again received within the recess 6 in the frame 2. It will be observed that in all adjusted positions of the plate the entire rotatable assembly, including the plate, will be held from any undesired angular movement by engagement of the teeth of the ro tatable external gear 40 with those of the fixed internal ring gear 24. It will also be seen that in the four 90 positions of the plate any rotation or other undesired movement of the plate will be prevented by reason of the positioning of the square plate within the square recess 6 of equal size. When the plate 34 is in any of the four described positions the external ring gear 40 is in its lowermost position and the four equally spaced holes 78 in the bottom thereof will receive the upper ends of the four equally spaced pins 76, thus holding the external ring gear and its attached parts, including the drawing plate 34, in exact position.

If it is desired to move the plate to some angular position other than the four usual positions at right angles to each other, this may be effected by first raising the entire rotatable assembly, including the spindle 26 and the plate 34, to a position in which the external gear 40 completely clears the fixed gear 24, this position of the parts being shown in dotted lines at 340 and 40a in Fig. 3. When the parts are in this position the assembly consisting of the gear 40, the plate 34 and the parts connected to these may be rotated to bring the plate 34 to any desired position after which the rotatable assembly may be lowered until the teeth on the rotatable external gear 40 engage the upper part of those on the fixed gear 24. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 3 at 34b and 40b and it will be seen that in this position the periphery of the plate 34 cannot move downwardly into the recess 6 in the frame as the square plate is not in alignment with the opening in the square frame. However, the entire rotatable assembly including the plate 34 will be held from rotation by engagement of the teeth of the external gear 40 with the upper parts of those of the fixed ring gear 24.

The edge strip 36 which surrounds the entire glass plate 34 is formed of a magnetic material. As shown in Fig. 1, this permits tapes or other straight-edge devices 101, each having magnets 99 at their ends, to be placed across the glass plate with the magnets in engagement with opposite parts of the edge strip 36 whereby each straightedge device 101 will be held in position across the upper surface of the glass plate.

An indicating device may be mounted on the frame 2 and will have its pointer overlying the edge of the plate 34 in order to provide means for indicating the angular position of the plate. Such an indicator is shown in Figs. 2 and 5 and is pivotally mounted at 112 on frame 2 in order to permit the indicator pointer to move vertically with vertical movement of the plate.

In known and conventional line-up tables of the type to which this invention relates there is provided a transparent or translucent work surface on which a sheet of paper or a negative or the like may be placed for the purpose of drawing lines for use in printing forms or the like. A second embodiment of the invention has to do with such a table which is already provided with a surface of the type and for the purpose described and, in this embodiment of the invention, a supplementary, rotatable work surface is provided. A table according to this embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings and includes a conventional translucent or transparent sheet 103, forming a work surface, which is surrounded by a rectangular frame 105. A hearing 104 is mounted at the center of the upper surface of the plate 103 and rotatably supports a horizontal plate 106 which is formed of glass or other translucent material and which is directly superimposed above the plate 103. A plurality of bearing members 108 are positioned on the upper surface of the lower plate 103 and provide support for the peripheral edge part of the upper plate 106.

Means are provided by the invention for locking the upper rotatable plate 106 in any of four positions at right angles to each other. Such means comprise, first, a vertical hole 120 which is formed in the upper surface of the plate 106 at the exact center of one of the sides thereof and adjacent the edge and which is preferably of such a depth that it extends below the lower surface of the edge strip 124 which extends about the periphery of the plate 106. If desired, this hole may he formed merely by removing part of the edge strip at the described location.

Two rectangular members 130, each having an open center, are fastened to the upper surface of the frame 105 at a 90 spacing and within the open center of each of these members there is positioned a base member 132 having two aligned holes 134, 136 there-in which are so positioned that when the plate 106 is rotated to bring the hole 120 adjacent either of the rectangular members the three holes 120, 134, 136 will be aligned at right angles to the adjacent side edge of the plate 106. Set screws 140 are threaded through the side and end walls of each rectangular member 130 and provide means for adjusting the position of the associated base member. As shown in Fig. 8 each base member is at a lower level than the plate 106. A plug member 150 is provided having three pins 152, 154, 156 depending from its lower surface which are so spaced and aligned that they will be received within the three spaced and aligned holes 120, 134, 136 in the edge of the plate and in the base member. Although only two rectangular members 130 and their associated base members 132 are shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, any number of these may be provided at pre-determined angular relations and positions on the frame 102, in order to permit locking of the plate 106 in any desired position.

It is believed that the mode of operation of this second embodiment of my invention will be clear without further detailed description. Obviously, the plug 150 may be removed and the upper plate 106 rotated to any position in which the holes 120, 134 and 136 are aligned, after which the plug 150 may be placed with its pins 152, 154, 156 in the aligned holes to hold the plate 106 in its adjusted position.

While we have described and allustrated two forms which our invention may take, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates that other embodiments, as well as modifications of those disclosed, may be made and practised without departing in any way from the spirit or scope of the invention, for the limits of which reference must be made to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A table for use in drawing angularly related lines on a sheet, comprising a frame defining an interior square opening and having a recess in its inner upper edge, a square supporting member on which a sheet to be lined is laid and which has its peripheral edge normally positioned within said recess, said supporting member being mounted for vertical movement from its position within said recess to an upper position and to an intermediate position both of which are above the frame, an external gear connected to said supporting member for rotation and vertical movement therewith, and a fixed internal ring gear positioned for co-operation with said external gear and being of such thickness that the two gears are in mesh when the supporting member is within the recess and in its intermediate position thereby to hold the supporting member from rotation and are not in mesh when the supporting member is in its upper position thereby to permit free rotation of the supporting member, and means for moving the supporting member and the connected external gear to said positions.

2. A table for use in drawing angularly related lines on a sheet, comprising a frame defining an interior square opening and having a recess formed in the inner upper edge of its four sides and surrounding said opening, a square planar member formed of translucent material normally having its peripheral edge positioned within said recess and providing a surface on which a sheet is laid to be lined, said planar member being mounted for vertical movement to an upper position and an intermediate position in both of which it is above said frame and removed from the recess therein, means for moving the planar member to its said three vertically related positions, and means for holding the planar member from rotation when it is in the recess and when it is in its intermediate position and for permitting free rotation thereof when it is in its upper position.

3. A table for use in drawing angularly related lines on a sheet, comprising a horizontal frame defining an interior square opening and having a recess formed in the inner upper edge of its four sides and surrounding said opening, an assembly comprising a vertical shaft positioned centrally of said square opening, a square planar member supported at its center on the upper end of said shaft, a plurality of radially extending arms connected at their inner ends to said shaft and positioned below said frame, means attached to the outer end parts of said radially extending arms and extending upwardly therefrom and engaging the lower surface of said planar member to support the same, an external gear mounted at its center on said shaft adjacent said arms, said planar member, shaft, gear, arms and supporting means forming an assembly which is mounted for rotary and vertical movement and which is normally so positioned that the peripheral edge part of the planar member is positioned within the recess in the frame, a fixed internal gear meshing with said external gear and being of such thickness and so positioned with respect to the external gear that the two gears are in mesh when said assembly is so positioned that the peripheral edge of the planar member is within the recess in the frame or is so positioned that the planar member is in an intermediate position immediately above the frame, and are not in mesh when the planar member is in a position above said intermediate position, whereby the planar member is held from rotation when the peripheral edge part thereof is within the recess and when the planar member is in said intermediate position and the planar member is permitted to rotate freely when it is in position above said intermediate position, and means for moving the planar member and the parts connected thereto to said vertically related positions.

4. A table according to claim 1, in which the external gear is positioned below the supporting member and concentrically therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

